Buying new pistol, need advice

[evldave]

ok, here's my deal. I have a shotgun, which I use mostly for hunting, but w/slug & 0000 shot works well for home defense (behind the locks and my 2 75# dogs).

What I'm looking for now, is a pistol, something I can carry w/me. I used to have Karr .40 cal w/3.5" barrel. Honestly, I hated it - too short barrel, plus a trigger/double-pull safety. I'm not too interested in home safety, with the dogs & shotgun. If I was, I've but a 15 round .22 w/hollow points - about a good as a home defense pistol as you can find (behind the shotgun).

What I need is a pistol (not revolver, hate 'em), with >6 round clip, with a real safety, with a >4" barrel, that can stop a bear/wolf/cougar/etc. I'll use it mostly for personal protection in my car, but want a single gun for both traveling protection + camping/outdoors. I was in Alaska a couple years ago and ended up 10' from a black bear. Everything worked out, but I have had a run-in w/the shotgun where my brother and I dumped 6 rounds of 4 shot into a small black bear while pheasant hunting near Yakima WA. I never want to be that freaked out again - I want a pistol I trust to take care of that for me. Pull it and shoot, no worries.

Without a bunch of BS about gun safety (I'm comfortable w/guns, been shooting them for 15 years), what's the best gun for my needs under $700? I don't mind used, don't need a laser sight, won't use it for target practice, can shoot quite well under pressure, and just need something with stopping power. Thanks.

[DRTYFN]

Can't go wrong with a nice Glock. Maintenance-free and nice to shoot.

[Big Z]

No no-sense stoppers! get a 45 or 50 cal auto!

[MarineHawk]

I agree with DRTY - it's hard to beat a Glock as an all-around gun. If I had to pick just one handgun for all purposes, I'd probably pick my Glock 27 - it holds ten potent .40 S&W rounds, has a 3.5" barrell, recoils less than any other .40 S&W I have shot (I own 6 of them) yet is smaller than a Walther PPK/S.
Yet, respecting your perceived need for an external safety, semi-auto, and 4"+ barrell, my favorite with those limitations would be this in .40S&W: http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/index...tNumber=704501.
I've had one since 1994. It's worked flawlessly ever since, and shoots better than I do.

Of course, IMO, you'd be crazy to be in many parts of Alaska where the Griz and Brown bear roam with anything less than a .44 Mag revolver. If I were in the Alaska wildernesses, and if I really didn't want to carry a rifle around, I'd probably have one of these: http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firear...=5505&return=Y in .454 Casull.
The .44 Mag-and-greater semi-autos, while novel are kind of silly IMO.

[Racer-X]

I did a lot of research when I bought my pistol for the same reasons. I was doing a lot of backwoods hiking. If you want to stop a bear of any size a .357 or 44 mag is the ticket. Better yet is what I carry now - bear spray.

[The Juice]

Be a man. Use a knife.

[KenP]

Originally Posted by DRTYFN

Can't go wrong with a nice Glock. Maintenance-free and nice to shoot.

I love our Glock, but our Taurus PT-945 with Magsafe's will put a real hurtin' on a bear.

I did a short search and didn't find anything negative about the gun, but I'm sure there are some.

Link to forum about it:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=1449

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by DRTYFN

Can't go wrong with a nice Glock. Maintenance-free and nice to shoot.

X2!!!!

Glocks all the way. Get a G23, a nice snappy .40 cal.

I've been shooting Glocks for years and have NEVER, EVER had a jam or misfire.

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by CO Hummer

X2!!!!

Glocks all the way. Get a G23, a nice snappy .40 cal.

I've been shooting Glocks for years and have NEVER, EVER had a jam or misfire.

You have not shot enough then

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by PARAGON

You have not shot enough then

wrong!

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by CO Hummer

wrong!

wronger

[Agriv8r]

Originally Posted by evldave

What I need is a pistol (not revolver, hate 'em), with >6 round clip, with a real safety, with a >4" barrel, that can stop a bear/wolf/cougar/etc. I'll use it mostly for personal protection in my car.

wow!!! Where do you drive?

[Agriv8r]

sorry couldn't resist. I have a desert eagle 44 with interchangeable barrels to 50 cal. semiauto and will stop most things living, dead, manmade..well you get the picture.

[evldave]

Originally Posted by Agriv8r

wow!!! Where do you drive?

I've seen bear in Alaska, Washington, Montana, and Wyoming, all in person, most in a car. I was once on a bike trip in Alaska, and got caught up between a cow moose & her calf. Scared the crap out of me, but I got out safely.

I've been backpacking a lot more than usualy this year, and next year am planning 2-3 longer backpacking trips, all in bear country (Glacier, North Cascades, British Columbia). Rather than just carry around a gun, I want to take some time to get used to it and shoot it regularly to get familiar with it before I need it. For my house, I've got a shotgun, I don't need a pistol, the only reason for this gun is in the absolute worst-case scenario. If that ever happens, I don't want a pussy poser gun (I considered the Karr a poser gun).

[ROX]

Originally Posted by evldave

ok, here's my deal. I have a shotgun, which I use mostly for hunting, but w/slug & 0000 shot works well for home defense (behind the locks and my 2 75# dogs).

What I'm looking for now, is a pistol, something I can carry w/me. I used to have Karr .40 cal w/3.5" barrel. Honestly, I hated it - too short barrel, plus a trigger/double-pull safety. I'm not too interested in home safety, with the dogs & shotgun. If I was, I've but a 15 round .22 w/hollow points - about a good as a home defense pistol as you can find (behind the shotgun).

What I need is a pistol (not revolver, hate 'em), with >6 round clip, with a real safety, with a >4" barrel, that can stop a bear/wolf/cougar/etc. I'll use it mostly for personal protection in my car, but want a single gun for both traveling protection + camping/outdoors. I was in Alaska a couple years ago and ended up 10' from a black bear. Everything worked out, but I have had a run-in w/the shotgun where my brother and I dumped 6 rounds of 4 shot into a small black bear while pheasant hunting near Yakima WA. I never want to be that freaked out again - I want a pistol I trust to take care of that for me. Pull it and shoot, no worries.

Without a bunch of BS about gun safety (I'm comfortable w/guns, been shooting them for 15 years), what's the best gun for my needs under $700? I don't mind used, don't need a laser sight, won't use it for target practice, can shoot quite well under pressure, and just need something with stopping power. Thanks.

K, I read your post but I'm going to say it anyway. REVOLVER. No parts to get jammed up. .44 magnum (or .50). Get a nice one and you will like it. That is all.

[RIC-H0]

Yep Yep...Revolver is a no brainer. Point and shoot!

[MovinH2]

Glock all the way. I have a M-17 that is kept under the bed.

[MarineHawk]

Originally Posted by MovinH2

Glock all the way. I have a M-17 that is kept under the bed.

You're the first other person I know of with an M-17. I bought mine barely-used. I love the concept of the gun, but I have significant jamming/extraction issues when I shoot it. I don't know if it is a design flaw or something else. Do you have any problems like that?

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by MarineHawk

You're the first other person I know of with an M-17. I bought mine barely-used. I love the concept of the gun, but I have significant jamming/extraction issues when I shoot it. I don't know if it is a design flaw or something else. Do you have any problems like that?

Ummm..... isn't that just a standard G17

[MarineHawk]

Originally Posted by PARAGON

Ummm..... isn't that just a standard G17

On second thought, I assume that's what he is referring to. When I first saw "M-17," I thought he was referring to a 2nd gun - one of these: